Methods of manufacturing waterproof cable

ABSTRACT

Successive sections of a cable core having twisted pairs of insulated conductors stranded together are moved axially longitudinally through a series of in-line chambers having interconnecting dies of an apparatus with facilities for the pressure application of a heated waterproofing compound having a jelly-like consistency into the interstices between the stranded pairs of conductors. The apparatus is designed to direct the compound inwardly radially of the core after which a flow path of the compound is established into an upstream direction relatively longitudinally of the advancing cable core to more completely fill the interstices of the completed core. Provisions are made for cooling the cable core both prior to the filling thereof to limit the movement upstream of the compound and subsequent to the filling of the core to solidify and render self-sealing the compound. Subsequently, the successive sections of the compound filled core are advanced through various stations whereat a core wrap and sheath are applied thereto together with additional applications of the waterproofing compound. A plastic jacket is extruded about the sheath and cooled prior to taking up of the successive sections of the jacketed cable onto a take-up reel.

United States Patent [191 Garrett et al.

[ 1 Jan. 29, 1974 METHODS OF MANUFACTURING WATERPROOF CABLE [75]Inventors: Carl Eugene Garrett, Stone Mountain, Ga.; William HenryKinsley, .lr., Omaha; Larry Dean Moody, Ralston, both of Nebr.

[73] Assignee: Western Electric Company,

Incorporated, New York, NY.

22 Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 196,949

Primary ExaminerRobert F. White Assistant Examiner- T. E. Balhoff A ttorn ey, gent, or Firm W. SOrners [57] ABSTRACT Successive sections of acable core having twisted pairs of insulated conductors strandedtogether are moved axially longitudinally through a series of in-linechambers having interconnecting dies of an apparatus with facilities forthe pressure application of a heated waterproofing compound having ajelly-like consistency into the interstices between the stranded pairsof conductors. The apparatus is designed to direct the compound inwardlyradially of the core after which a flow path of the compound isestablished into an upstream direction relatively longitudinally of theadvancing cable core to more completely fill the interstices of thecompleted core. Provisions are made for cooling the cable core bothprior to the filling thereof to limit the movement upstream of thecompound and subsequent to the filling of the core to solidify andrender self-sealing the compound.

Subsequently, the successive sections of the compound filled core areadvanced through various stations whereat a core wrap and sheath areapplied thereto together with additional applications of thewaterproofing compound. A plastic jacket is extruded about the sheathand cooled prior to taking up of the successive sections of the jacketedcable onto a take-up reel.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTHJ JAN 2 9 [9M SHEET 1 OF 4 METHODSOF MANUFACTURING WATERPROOF CABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fieldof the Invention This invention relates to methods of manufacturingwaterproof cable, and more particularly, to methods of pressure fillingthe interstitial voids of a stranded cable core with a waterproofingcompound to facilitate the construction of an essentially waterproofcable having a core wrap, sheathing and jacketing together withadditional applications of the waterproofing compound over the core.

2. Technical Considerations and Description of the Prior Art [n themanufacture of various communications cables, such as those contemplatedfor use as underground or buried cable in telephone communicationssystems, individual bare conductors are extrusion coated with aninsulative coating with the insulated conductors being twisted in pairs.A plurality of the twisted pairs of the insulated conductors aresubsequently stranded together to form a cable core with a bindingribbon then being wound helically about the successive sections of thecable core for coding purposes. A thermal and dielectric barrier tape,commonly referred to in the art as a core wrap, and a metallic shieldare wrapped about the advancing successive sections of the cable core.Then a jacketing layer of a plastic insulating material is extruded overthe successive sections of the enclosed cable core.

Provisions must be made to protect the insulated conductors of the cablecore to minimize the entry of moisture into the cable core. Sincecommunications cables of the type described hereinbefore may becontemplated for underground or buried environments, moisture diffusioninto the interior of the core is likely with accompanying corrosiveattack causal of damage to the conductors and change in capacitance.Further, the presence of moisture in the cable core would result in theinefficient, and in some cases, the failure of, the operation of thetelephone circuits formed by the conductors. There is also thepossibility that the jacket and the metallic barrier could be brokenopen by external forces, such as shifting rock formations in the buriedconfigurations or inadvertent blows to above-ground portions of thecable which could expose the cable core to moisture.

A presently used technique for minimizing moisture penetration into thecable core of a communications cable includes the use of metal stripprecoated with an adhesive material and which is wrapped longitudinallyabout the core wrapped cable core. A jacket of hot plastic material isextruded about the adhesive coating on say one outwardly facing surfaceof the moisture barrier with the heat of extrusion causing the metalbarrier to be bonded to the inner wall of the jacket to thereby form abonded sheath about the cable core. The bonded sheath provides amoisture barrier which reduces the penetration of corrosive, damagingmoisture into the core of the cable. Additionally, the cable core may bepressurized subsequently, which further tends to reduce the penetrationof moisture into the core.

Another technique used to minimize the entry of moisture into a cablecore includes the flooding of the interstitial voids in the corestructure of the cable with a compound which possesses propertiessufficient to minimize the entry of moisture into the core. Ideally, thecompound would fill all of the air spaces and voids within the cablewhich comprise the interstitial structure of the cable core. Because ofthe stranding together of twisted pairs of insulated conductors to formthe core, difficulties have been experienced with prior art processes ininsuring that all of the voids of the interstitial structure are filledwith the waterproofing compound, particularly those which occupy theaxially central portions of the core.

One approach in attempting to insure that all of the voids are filledwith the waterproofing compound has been to advance the individualtwisted pairs of conductors through a flooding chamber to coat eachpair. Subsequently, the twisted pairs, having waterproofing compoundadhered thereto, are stranded together into units which are thenreflooded and cabled together to form a cable core. The cable core isadvanced longitudinally with a protective tape or core wrap formed aboutthe core and bound.

The wrapped cable core is advanced through a forming tube into whichwaterproofing compound under pressure, which may be as high as 50 psi,is introduced to coat the cable core assembly. The coated cable core isenclosed with an aluminum tape which is later covered with waterproofingcompound prior to a jacketing operation. The process of covering thewrapped core is described in an application Ser. No. 69,837 filed 9--4-70 in the name of L. D. Moody. (See also US. Pat. No. 3,607,487 issued9-21-71.)

Another method of cable filling is that shown in US. Pat. No. 1,681,566,in which successive sections of a cable are advanced through two vacuumchambers to evacuate the interstices of the loaded conductor. A fillingchamber is connected to the downstream end of the vacuum chambers tofill the interstices within the cable. The compound could be maintainedunder pressure to force the compound most effectively into theinterstices of the cable. Subsequently, a second compound chamber couldapply a thin layer of compound to the surface of the cable after whichthe cable is fed directly into the core tube of an extrusion apparatuswhere a covering of, say, gutta percha, is applied over the cable. Thecompound is in a relatively fluid state with the pressures ofapplication of the compound and gutta percha equalized to preventdeformation of the compound.

One prior art patent, US. Pat. No. 1,892,663, also shows methods andapparatus for impregnating solid insulating material of cables with aninsulating fluid with the solid insulating material being surrounded bya sheath of say, lead, for example. A portion of the lead sheath isremoved and a perforated or pemerable metallic sheath is inserted incontact with the solid insulation and a casing is applied to the cableto replace the removed portion of the sheath and is arranged to leave aspace between the inner surface thereof and the outer surface. Apressure device is connected to the casing for completing and/ormaintaining the impregnation of the cable by maintaining a predeterminedpressure within the cable and preventing the formation of ionizablevoids.

Viscous lubricants have also been incorporated into rope material bymethods such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,028,158. A lubricantnozzle is positioned over the area of convergence of a plurality ofindividual fibers with the strands being stranded downstream of thenozzle. The lubricant is ejected under pressure to form an annulus aboutthe rope with the lubricant being forced into the interstices betweenthe individual fibers by a wiper.

Another method of lubricating wire rope is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.2,195,461, in which the lubricant may be applied cold. Unheatedlubricant is applied to individual fibers as the fibers are advancedinto a forming die. Once the lubricant has been brought into contactwith the moving wire, further movement of the wires pulls the lubricantoutward of the container thereof. The flow continues as long as theindividual fibers are advanced into and through a forming die toassemble a rope.

In the prior art, methods of saturating fibrous coverings on wires andcables are typified by that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,252,755 inwhich the covered wires or cables are advanced through a tank of coatingmaterial. The coated wire is then pulled through a chamber havingorifices designed to increase the pressure in the saturating material asthe wire is drawn through the chamber to force the saturating materialinto the pores or interstices of fibrous covering on the wire or cable.The wire or cable is pulled through a plurality of chambers each ofwhich is partially closed by orifices of form and size to create apressure. Each successive orifice is smaller than the previous onethereof to successively squeeze back some of the saturating material.This builds up a pressure in an enlarged chamber just upstream of eachorifice to move the material into the interstices of the wire covering.Relief valves are provided to prevent the build-up of unduly highpressures.

Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,870, discloses methods offabricating a flexible impregnated glass fiber tether which converges aplurality of filaments into a fixture charged with a thermosetting resinfollowed by passing the bundle of resin coated fibers into a vesselhaving facilities for removing air from the resin and then through a diesized to generate a high pressure to force the resin into the filamentbundle. Then the bundle is passed into an oven to decrease the viscosityof the resin and then through a double vacuum to remove all volatiles inthe air and then through sealing and sizing dies.

In one prior art patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,235, issued on Nov. 3,1970, moisture prevention is sought by disposing a powder mixture in thespace between the wires of the core and is loosely packed over the fulllength of the cable. The mixture is capable, on contact with moisture,of rapidly swelling into a viscous material, inhibiting axialpenetration of moisture along the cable and also capable after a longerperiod of time of expanding to many times its axial volume on having aneven higher viscosity than before.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,967 issued on Aug. 31, 1971, it is disclosed thatin the manufacture of plastic insulated multi-conductor cables that arefilled throughout with water impermerable filling material, it has beenconsidered necessary to transfer such material from a storage vessel tothe cable and to apply it to the cable under super-atmospheric pressureby some form of pump. To pump such material in a solid condition isdifficult because of almost inevitable cavitation and degradation of thematerial and the lowering of the viscosity thereof thereby rendering itless capable of forming a barrier permanently resistant to water underpressure.

The aforementioned patent alleges that the degradation may be reduced ifpumping takes place while the material is at a temperature just abovethe temperature at which crystallization begins, i.e., just above thatat which the sealing material is in a sufiiciently liquid state topermit pumping of the material to be effected with substantially nodegradation of the material occurring.

There is shown a cable wire provided with sealing material which ispumped to a feeding station and to the core while at therecrystallization temperature. The material is cooled to effectcrystallization by abstractions of heat by the insulated conductors ofthe core and cause the material to become solidified to form a moisturebarrier. The patent discloses that it is not necessary to cool thesealing material while it is transferred from the cable feeding stationto the cable core.

The sealing material is applied through a die having three entry portswhich are distributed uniformly about the axis of the die and which areinclined to impart to the liquified material a component of movement inthe same axial direction as the direction of travel of the cable corebeing advanced through the die. Heating coils are provided for use whenthe sealing material has been allowed to go solid, asfor example, whencommencing circulation of the sealing material in preparation forapplying sealing material to a cable core.

The sealing material is applied through a sealing die which isdetachably secured to the entry end of the closing die of a strandinghead, with another feeding station used where two or more conductors maybe brought together to form a core under which other groups are laid up.Surplus material is allowed to fall into an associated collecting tankto be reheated and recirculated.

The above described apparatus is used to fill each layer of a layeredcable with the compound being bled off a feeder line and directed into aplurality of spaced applicator dies which are positioned individually ateach stranding head. At each stranding head die, a pool of material ismaintained to cover the strand or layer with a volume flow appliedthereto. There is no creation of a definite positive pressure within theapplicator facility, but rather application by volume flow.

Moreover, the material is applied by the applicator dies through angledports so that there is a component of flow in the direction of travel ofthe layered strands. As the layer is advanced, the layer tends to pullthe material from the angled ports to force the material downwardlyagainst the layer. Of course, the material must only be pulled down onelayer.

It is an object of this invention to provide methods of and apparatusfor pressure filling the interstices of a completed cable core.

Also the above recently issued patent depends on the conductors to actas a heat sink to cool the compound. This may be effective when dealingwith a single layer but may not be as effective when filling a completedcore.

It is also an object of this invention to provide methods and apparatusfor pressure filling the interstices of a cable core with provisions forcooling the compound.

Since the waterproofing compound desirably replaces the air in theinterstitial structure of the cable core, the compound must haveexcellent electrical properties so that the compound-filled cablemaintains transmission characteristics at least as good as those ofcables having an air-filled core and which use other techniques ofmoisture exclusion. In addition, the compound must have excellentresistance to flow at atmospheric temperature since portions of thecable must be brought above ground for terminating purposes. Further,the compound must possess low-temperature properties, such as adhesionand resistance to cracking due to handling of the cables in coldenvironments. The compound must not possess any toxic properties whichwould be objectionable from the standpoint of handling by installationpersonnel who may come into intimate contact with the compound.

It has been found that a mixture of petrolatum and low-densitypolyethylene in a precise blend satisfied the above-outlinedrequirements. Facilities have been developed and are disclosed inco-pending, commonly assigned application, Ser. No. 155,055, filed June21, 1971 in the names of E. L. Franke, Jr., W. J. Hyde and R. G.Schneider, for overcoming problems and high costs encountered when thepetrolatum-polyethylene waterproofing compound was blended at a distantlocation and transported to a core filling station.

The above-identified application, Ser. No. 155,055, filed June 21, 1971,also discloses still other methods arid apparatus for manufacturingwaterproof cable. Air is evacuated from the interstitial structure ofthe core of a cable, a waterproof compound in a workable state isdeposited into the air-evacuated voids of the cable core, and thewaterproofing compound is placed into a nonflowable state so that thedeposited compound remains in the voids of and on the surface of thecable core independently of any other supporting structure tosubstantially preclude the entry of moisture into the core. This processovercomes some of the prior art difficulties in that the fillingoperation is accomplished during the final sheathing operation whichprevents air entrapment that may occur if the core is filled during anearlier manufacturing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide new and improved methods of manufacturing waterproof cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved methods ofinjecting and depositing a preblended waterproofing compound into thevoids of the interstitial structure of a cable core.

A still further object of this invention is to provide methods ofdepositing a waterproofing compound into the voids of the interstitialstructure of an axially moving stranded cable core.

A method embodying certain principles of the invention may include thesteps of advancing successive sections of a cable core, directingstreams of the compound in a semifluid state generally inwardly and thenrelatively longitudinally of the stranded cable core to cause thecompound to displace the air within the interstices of the stranded coreand conditioning the compound associated with the stranded core to aconsistency having a viscosity sufficient to facilitate the retention ofthe compound with the stranded core independently of any supportingstructure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing aportion of a communications cable;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the communications cable showingwaterproofing compound located within the interstices of the core aswell as other portions of the cable;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation showing an apparatus for directingwaterproofing compound into the core of a cable and embodying certainprinciples of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in plan view showing a typical end portion ofthe apparatus of FIG. 3 which includes provisions for cooling thewaterproofing compound;

FIG. 5 is an end sectional view of the cooling chamber shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail view in elevation of a portion of the apparatusshowing a pressure filling chamber in which waterproofing compound isdirected into the interstices of the cable core;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view in perspective showing a pressure fillingdevice; and

FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the pressure filling device shownin FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a length of a acommunications cable, designated generally by the nu meral 11. The cable11 includes a cable core, designated generally by the numeral 12, andwhich is composed of a plurality of insulated conductors 13-13 whichhave been twisted into pairs and then stranded into cable units. Coloredbinder ribbons 16-16 are wrapped about the cabled units to provide avisual color code indication as to certain characteristics of cable core12. A core wrap 17, made from a plastic thermal barrier and dielectrictape, is wrapped longitudinally about the cable core 12. Then one formof moisture protection, a corrugated aluminum shielding tape 18, iswrapped longitudinally about the core wrap 17, to prevent the ingress ofmoisture into the core and to provide a lightning shield for the cablecore. Finally, a jacket 19 of insulating material is extruded over thecorrugated aluminum shielding tape 18 to complete the construction ofthe cable 11.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the twisted conductors 1313 and thestranded cable units 14-14 are constructed in a manner which creates airvoids in the form of interstices 2l2l in the cable core 12. In order toreduce the probability of moisture diffusion into and collection in theinterstices 21 of the cable core 12, the air voids of interstices arefilled with a waterproofing jelly-like compound comprised of a mixtureof petrola- 22 between the core wrap 17 and corrugated aluminumshielding tape 18. Also, waterproofing compound is applied in a space 23between the outwardly facing surface of the corrugated aluminumshielding tape 18 the extruded jacket 19, The so-called filled cable 11,as shown in FIG. 2 has been found to be substantially impervous tomoisture. Adequate protection is thereby against moisture degradation ofthe conductors 13-13 of the cable 11, and eliminates the problemsexperienced when moisture diffuses into the cores of cables used in thecommunications industry.

The stranded structure of the cable core 12 is arranged with air voidsexisting throughout the crosssectional configuration of the core. Itshould be obvious that difficulties may be encountered in insuring thatthe air voids of the centermost ones of the interstices 2l21 will befilled or will be filled with as much waterproofing compound as the airvoids of the outermost interstices. In order to overcome this problem,methods or apparatus were developed which facilitated the application ofthe waterproofing compound to the cable core 12 in such a manner thatsubstantially all the voids of the interstices 21-21 of the core arefilled with the compound.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a compound applying apparatus,designated generally by the numeral 40, for carrying out the principlesof the method of this invention for applying waterproofing compound intothe interstices 21-21 of the cable core 12. The apparatus 40 includes asupport frame 41 mounted on a stationary floor 42. Moreover, theapparatus includes an upstream cooling chamber, designated generally bythe numberal 43, a pressure relief chamber, designated generally by thenumeral 44, a pressure filling chamber, designated generally by thenumeral 46, and a second or downstream cooling chamber, designatedgenerally by the numeral 47, with successive sections of the cable core12 being advanced through the aforementioned chambers in seriatum withthe waterproofing compound being supplies to the pressure fillingchamber 46 by a supply system, designated generally by the numeral 48.

The construction details of the cooling chambers 43 and 47 can best beseen by referring to FIG. 4. Although the upstream one 47 of the coolingchambers is shown there, the construction of both is identical.

As can best be seen in FIG. 4, the upstream cooling chamber 43 includesan outer tubular member 51 having a flanged internally threaded end 52and an opposite end 53. It must be appreciated that in the upstreamcooling chamber 43, the end 53 is positioned upstream of the flanged end52. The cooling chamber 43 also has an internal sleeve 54 concentric andcontiguous with the outer tubular member 51 extending from the externalface of the flanged end 52 to an internal face of an internally threadedrecess 56 formed at the end 53.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sleeve 54 has a pair ofopposed baffle plates 5757 extending radially inwardly toward alongitudinal axis 58 of the apparatus 40. The baffle plates 5757 arelongitudinally extending the length of a passageway 59 enclosed by thesleeve 54 and are adjacent to, but spaced slightly from the outercircumferential surface of a longitudinally extending tube 61. Thesuccessive sections of the cable core 12 are advanced through the end 53into the cooling chamber 43 and through the longitudinally extendingtube 61.

The longitudinally extending tube 61 is formed with a flared entranceportion 62 (see FIG. 4) which extends past a closed end 63 of the tube61 at the flanged end 52 of the cooling chamber. The tube 61 has atapered transition section 64 at the other end of the cooling chamber 43connected to an entrance portion 66 having uniform cross section andwhich opens to the recess 56. The section 66 is in abutting fixedengagement with the inwardly facing surface of the inner sleeve 54. Itshould be observed from FIG. 4 that the baffle plates 57-57 are formedwith sloped edges adjacent the tapered section 64 and spaced slightlytherefrom. On the other hand, the ends of the baffle plates 5757 arespaced considerably from the closed end 63. The construction of thebaffle plates 5757 with respect to the end portions of the coolingchamber 43 and the tube 61 is to effect a particular mode of cooling andsealing of the apparatus 40. Finally, a flared entrance portion 67 isconnected to and extends axially longitudinally from the tube 61 throughthe section 64 and the portion 66.

It should be observed that the unitary construction of the sleeve 54 andtube 61 and the assembly thereof with the outer tubular member 51permits the interchangeability of tubes to accommodate different sizecores 12-12. The tube 61 may be conveniently slid longitudinally andreplaced with a tube of the required diameter.

In order to complete the construction of the subassembly cooling chamber43, an insert 68 includes a knurled threaded end 69 and having anexternally threaded boss 71 extending therefrom. The insert 68 has abore 72 formed therethrough concentric with the flared entrance portion67 and with the axis of the bore 59 and connected to the inwardly facingsurface of the insert. The insert 68 is designed so that thelongitudinal axis thereof is aligned with the longitudinal axis 58 ofthe tube 61.

In order to cool the successive sections of the cable core 12 which areadvanced through the cooling chambers 43 and 47, water is introducedthrough inlet tubes 73 and 74, respectively, (see FIG. 3) into theportion of the chamber between the inwardly facing surface of the sleeve54 and the outwardly facing surface of the tube 61. The water iscirculated through the cooling chambers 43 and 48 and then removedtherefrom through outlet tubes 76 and 77 for return to a pump andchilling apparatus (not shown) for subsequent cooling. The chilled waterwhich is supplied to the cooling chambers 43-43 is at a temperature ofapproximately 55F which is sufficient to remove heat from the successivesections of the cable core 12 being advanced through the tube 61.

Successive sections of the cable core 12 which have been advancedthrough the upstream one 43 of the cooling chambers 43 and 47 are thenmoved into a pressure relief chamber 44 connected to the downstream endof the upstream one of the cooling chambers. The pressure relief section44 includes a housing 81 having a bore 82 formed therethrough with anupstream end of the housing having a reduced diameter externallythreaded portion (see FIG. 6) to be attached threadably with theinternally threaded flanged end 52 of the upstream one 43 of the coolingsections 43 and 48. A die 83 having an opening 84 therethrough ispositioned within the upstream end of the bore 82. The downstream end ofthe housing 81 includes an internally threaded portion 86 with a die 87having an opening 88 and positioned just upstream of the internallythreaded portion. The die 83 and the die 87 are connected bylongitudinal rods 89-89.

The dies 83 and 87 are formed with the central openings 84 and 88,respectively, concentrically disposed within the housing 81 to providemovement axially therethrough of the successive sections of the cablecore 12. It should be appreciated that different size cable cores 12-12must be accommodated by the apparatus 40. Accordingly, the dies 83 and87 are mounted in the housing 81 to permit removal thereof andreplacement at selected periods with dies to accommodate different sizecable cores 12-12. For example, the cable core 12 could include 25, 50,200 or 200 twisted pairs of conductors 13-13. Of course, the externaldiameter of the dies 83 and 87 remain the same to permit insertion andmounting within the upstream and downstream ends of the housing 81.

The pressure relief section 44 also includes a drain line 85 having anadjustable relief valve 90 for regulating the pressure in the pressurefilling chamber 46. Another function of the drain line 85 and pressurerelief valve 90 is to establish together with the pressure fillingfacilities a continuous flow of waterproofing compound in a directionopposite to that of the travel of the core 12. The axial longitudinalflow of the compound has been found to be effective to insure a morecomplete penetration of the core 12 than had heretofore been achieved.

After the successive sections of the cable core 12 are advanced throughthe pressure relief section 44, successive sections of the cable coreare moved into and through the pressure filling chamber 46. The pressurefilling chamber 46 includes an outer tubular member 91 having anexternally threaded upstream end 92 onto which is turned the internallythreaded end 86 of the pressure relief section 44 during the assembly ofthe apparatus 40. The pressure filling chamber 46 is provided with atleast one, and preferably three, filling devices, designated generallyby the numeral 9393.

The filling devices 93-93 are mounted within the tubular member 91 andare spaced longitudinally along the axis thereof with spacers 94-94being interposed therebetween. As can best be seen in FIG. 7, each ofthe filling devices 93-93 includes a pair of spaced flanges 94 and 96connected by a sleeve 97. The outside diameter of the flanges 94 and 96is designed to mate with the inwardly facing surface of the tubularmember 91. The internal diameter of the sleeve 97 is designed toaccommodate a particular size cable by having an anticipated number oftwisted pairs of conductors 13-13. Provisions are made for removing thepressure filling devices 9393 to provide interchangeability with othersrequired to accommodate different size cable cores. In the alternative,the internal diameter of the sleeve 97 may be designed to accommodatethe largest anticipated core size thereby eliminating the necessity ofchanging the filling devices 93-93 for each size core being processed.The filling device 93 also includes a plurality of openings 98-98 fordirecting the waterproofing compound into engagement with the successivesections of the cable core 12 being advanced through the sleeve 97.

As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the pressure filling devices 93-93 arepositioned within the tubular member 91 so that the annular spacebetween the flanges 94 and 96 of each is aligned with a feeder pipe 99extending through an opening 101 in the tubular member. The feeder pipes99-99 include shut-off valves 102-102 and are designed to conveywaterproofing compound from a supply manifold 103 to the filling devices9393.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, it can be seen that the supply system 48for supplying waterproofing compound to the pressure filling compoundchamber 46 includes a central supply 104 which is connected along aconduit 106 to a first pump 107 and then along a conduit 108 to acentral pumping system 109 and from there along a conduit 111 to supplyconduit 112. The supply conduit 112 extends through an opening 113 inthe end 114 of the supply manifold 103 and terminates at the other endthereof. A threaded thermocouple l 16 is turned threadably through athreaded opening 117 formed in the end of the supply manifold 103. Thethermocouple 116 is utilized to monitor and/or regulate the temperatureof the supply compound.

The supply conduit 112 includes a plurality of openings 118 formed alonga length therof which is positioned within a passage 119 of the supplymanifold. Moreover, the supply 103 is provided with a plurality ofportable strip heaters 121-121 which may be used to maintain thetemperature of a particular composition waterproofing compound to apredetermined temperature which has been found to be advantageous to thefilling process. A plurality of strip heaters 122-122 are also spacedalong and connected to the outside surface of the tube 91 as shown inFIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the downstream end of the tube 91 has anexternally threaded section 123 for receiving an internally threaded end124 of an extension section 126 of the cooling chamber 46. The section126 is aligned concentrically with the tube 91 and the longitudinal axis58 of the apparatus 40. The extension 126 also includes a sleeve 127concentrically disposed within a bore 128 formed within the extensionsection. Of course, the section 126 need not be a separate element butcould just as well have been constructed as an integral continuation ofthe tubular member 91. A pressure gauge 129 is connected into an opening131 through the section 126 and the sleeve 127 to communicate with thesleeve passage to indicate to an operator the pressure therewithin.

A die 132 having an opening 133 designed to accommodate a particularcore 12 having a predetermined number of twisted conductors 13-13 ismounted within the downstream end of the extension 126 and is designedto engage with the flared entrance 62 of the downstream one of thecooling chambers 43 and 47 (see FIG. 5). Also, the die insert 132 isadapted to be removed and interchangeable with other dies having varyingopenings 133-133 to accommodate different size cable cores 12-12. Ofcourse, the dies 132-132 are constructed with the same outside diameterto permit reception within the bore 128.

As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the extension 126 has an externallythreaded end 134 for reception within the internally threaded opening ofthe flanged end 52 of the cooling chamber 47. When the downstream one 47of the cooling chambers 43 and 47 is connected to the downstream end ofthe extension section 126, the flared end 62 of the tube 61 engages thedie.

The construction of the cooling chambers 43 and 47 prevents the coolingmedium from escaping therefrom.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the flared end portion 62 and the entranceportions 66 are connected to the sleeve 54. As cooling medium flows intothe inlet tube 73 and say upstream in the cooling chamber 47, theportion of the cooling medium which does not trickle downwardly bygravity past the baffle plates 57-57 into the lower portion of thechamber is contained by the end member or closure plate 63 from movingfurther upstream and contaminating the waterproofing compound. Theopening between the closure plate 63 and the baffle plates 5757 permitsthe bulk of the cooling medium to enter the lower portion of the coolingchamber 47. Similarly, at the downstream end of the chamber 47, theconnection of the portion 66 to the sleeve presents escape of thecooling medium.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT It has been found that improvements may be madein the pressure filling device 93. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, animproved pressure filling device 140 may include a cylindrical portion141 having an outside diameter approximately equivalent to the internaldiameter to the tube 91 with a plurality of the devices arranged intandem within the tube and maintained in a spaced relationship by thespacers 94-94 interposed therebetween.

The improved pressure filling device 140 has a passageway 142 formedtherethrough, through which successive sections of the cable core 12 areadvanced. Moreover, the cylindrical portion 141 includes a raceway 143formed helically thereabout with a plurality of openings 144-144communicating the raceway with the passageway 142. In this way, thewaterproofing compound is moved, for example, through the openings101-101 which are aligned with an upstream portion of the raceway 143 ofan associated one of pressure filling devices 140-140. The compoundunder pressure of approximately 50 psi is urged along the racewayhelically about the cylindrical portion 14 in a downstream direction andthrough successive ones of the openings 144-144 into engagement with theadvancing cable core 12.

It is believed this arrangement of the openings in seriatum rather thanin an opposed radial relationship may more completely fill theinterstices of the advancing cable core 12.

Operation Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, successive sections of thecable core 12 are moved axially from a supply stand (not shown) or fromother apparatus of a tandem line and through the in-line elements of thecompound applying apparatus 40. The successive sections of the cablecore 12 are advanced through the bore 72 of the insert'68 and into theflared opening 67 of the first cooling chamber 43. Because of theessentially close openings of the flared entrance 67 (see FIG. 4), theflared entrance forms an essentially air-tight entry for the cable core12 into the compound applying apparatus 40. Thereafter, the successivesections of the cable core 12 are advanced into and through the tube 61of the cooling chamber 43.

Chilled water is pumped from the pumping system (not shown) into thewater inlet tubes 73 and 74 and into a topmost portion of the chamber 43between the tube 61 and the sleeve 54. The water under pressure moves ina downstream direction in the cooling chamber 43 simultaneously havingportions thereof trickle through the space between the baffle plates5757 and the tube 61 to fill the lower portion of the chamber. The bulkof the water is moved within the upper portion of the chamber toward thedownstream end thereof and flows between the closed end 63 and the endportions of the baffle plates 57-57 upstream of the flared end 62 of thetube 61 and into the lower chamber. The water in the lower portion ofthe chamber is evacuated therefrom through the water outlet tubes 76 and77 for recirculation to chilling apparatus and subsequentredistribution.

Simultaneously, the water in the downstream cooling chamber movesupstream with portions thereof trickling between the baffle plates 5757and the tube 61 to drop into the lower portion of the cooling chamber.The majority of the water descends into the lower portion of the chamberat the upstream end of the cooling chamber 43 between the end of thesleeve 54 and the flared entrance portion 62.

Successive sections of the cable core 12 are then moved into and throughthe pressure relief section 44 of the apparatus40 with the cable core 12first engaging with the walls of the die 83 and then with the walls ofthe die opening 88.

Subsequently, the successive sections of the cable core 12 are movedinto and then into the compound filling chamber 46 and successivelythrough each one of the pressure filling devices 93-93 or 140-140, inthe alternative. The waterproofing compound is pumped from the supply104 along the lines 106 and 108 and the line 111 into the supply conduit112. From there, the waterproofing compound is urged through theopenings 118-118 into the passage 119 of the supply manifold 103. Theheaters 121-121 are rendered effective to maintain the waterproofingcompound to a particular temperature composition so that compound maymore appropriately fill the interstices 21-21 of the cable core 12. Thewaterproofing compound is moved from the supply manifold 103 through thethe feeder pipes 99-99.

Waterproofing compound at a pressure of approximately 50 pounds persquare inch is then moved through the openings 101-101 in the wall ofthe tube 91 and into the annular space formed between the flanges 94 and96 of the associated pressure filling device 93. From there, thewaterproofing compound is urged through the openings 98-98 and radiallyinward into engagement with the core 12. As the heated waterproofingcompound is continually moved into engage ment with the outer ones ofthe insulated conductors 13-13, the waterproofing compound is movedinwardly of the cable core 12 to displace the air from and to fill theinterstices 21-21.

The pressure within the filling chamber 46 causes the waterproofingcompound to be urged axially longitudinally of the chamber in anupstream direction toward the pressure relief chamber 44. In theupstream direction, the waterproofing compound is squeezed past the dieopening 88 and into the pressure relief chamber 44. Any of thewaterproofing compound which has passed or moved into the pressurerelief chamber 44 passes into the discharge pipe to be returned to thecentral pumping system 109 for recirculation to the supply manifold 103.

It should be observed that even though the cable core 12 may be veryclose fitting within the die opening 88,

that some of the waterproofing compound may be urged axiallylongitudinally within the interstices of the core' itself so that tofind a path into the pressure relief chamber for discharge into therecirculated system. This is extremely important in being able to fillthe interstices of the cable core 12. A flow path of the compound isestablished to more positively direct the compound to be movedinternally through the plural core units or layers to insure a completefilling. A combination of the velocity of the compound and the pressurehas been found adequate to fill the very largest cores manufactured.

In order to prevent the waterproofing compound from moving still furtherin an upstream direction, the apparatus 40 incorporates the upstream one43 of the cooling chambers 43 and 47. The operation of the coolingchamber 43 is closely allied to the character of the compound which isthat the compound becomes very viscous at lower temperatures. Thecompound cools and tends to be self-sealing at temperatures such asthose of the chilled water which is supplied to the cooling chambers 43and 47. Consequently, any of the waterproofing compound which is urgedwithin the interstices 2l21 of the cable core 12 in an upstreamdirection from the pressure relief section 44 tends to become veryviscous and self-sealing to prevent a mass exodus of waterproofingcompound into the cooling chamber 43. This, in effect, tends tostabilize the system and maintain the flow of the waterproofing compoundonly so far as the pressure relief chamber 44 from where the compound ispulled into the conduit 85 by the pump 109.

Similarly, in the downstream direction, the construction of theapparatus 40 tends to inhibit the disassociation of the compound fromthe core 12 beyond the insert 68 of the cooling chamber 47. The die 132sizes the layer of waterproofing compound on the surface of the core 12.Then the temperature of the waterproofing compound both within and onthe surface of the core 12 is rendered viscous by the advance of thesuccessive sections of the cable core through the cooling chamber 47.The waterproofing compound is rendered nonflowable and is retainedwithin the interstices of the core 12 independently of any othersupporting structure.

The cable core 12 which now includes the waterproofing compoundessentially filling the interstices thereof is then advanced through aseries of operations in which the core wrap 17 is wrapped longitudinallyabout the cable core. Then additional amounts of the waterproofingcompound may be applied to the cable core 12 after which a band orribbon is wrapped helically about the core wrap. Subsequently,corrugated aluminum shielding tape 18 is wrapped longitudinally aboutthe core wrap.

As the corrugated aluminum shielding tape 18 is being formed forsubsequent longitudinal wrapping about the cable core 12 and the corewrap 17, the cable core and the core wrap may be passed through amandrel into which is injected additional amounts of the waterproofingcompound immediately prior to the longitudinal forming of the aluminumshielding tape 18 about the core wrap. This feature of the operation isdisclosed in a co-pending application, Ser. No. 69,837, filed in thename of L. D. Moody on Sept. 4, 1970.

Thereafter, cable core 12 having the core wrap 17 and the corrugatedaluminum shielding tape 18 wrapped thereabout is passed through a path(not shown) of the waterproofing compound so that the compound fillsessentially the valleys of the corrugations of the shielding tape. Thecable core 12 with the core wrap 17 and the aluminum shielding tape 18is then passed through an extruder head (not shown) where thepolyethylene jacket 19 is applied. The jacketed product is then passedthrough a cooling trough (not shown) and on to a take-up reel (notshown).

The waterproofing compound may be prepared in a compound preparationarea with facilities which are described in co-pending application, Ser.No. 155,055, filed in the names of E. L. Franke, Jr., W. J. Hyde and R.G. Schneider on June 21, 1971.

The waterproofing compound is generally heated by the strip heaters121-121 and the strip heaters 122--122 to a temperature of approximately200F. This temperature has been found to be adequate to render thewaterproofing compound semifluid and of a consistency sufficientlyviscous to fill the interstices 2l21 of the cable core 12.

Although the hereinbefore described apparatus 40 included facilities forheating the waterproofing compound, it is within the scope of thisinvention to fill the interstices 2121 of the cable core 12 with acompound at an ambient temperature of approximately F. In thoseinstances a different composition compound may be used with theapparatus 40 and with the strip heaters 121 and 122 not being used.Also, when using waterproofing compound at an ambient temperatureespecially with the larger size cable cores, it may be necessary to usean injection pressure in the range of to psi. For smaller size cables,pressure of approximately 50 psi is acceptable with the compound appliedat an ambient temperature.

Should it be decided to waterproof a particular cable core 12 withwaterproofing compound at ambient temperature, the cooling chambers 43and 47 need not be rendered effective. Therefore, valves (not shown) maybe operated to discontinue the supply of chilled water to the coolingchambers 43 and 47.

Moreover, the flow path of the waterproofing compound which isestablished subsequent to the directing of the streams of compound intothe pressure filling chamber 46 may be varied depending upon suchvariables as the composition of the compound used and pair size of thecable cores. For example, it would be within the scope of this inventionto have the waterproofing compound moved relatively longitudinally in adownstream direction with the advancing cable core 12 as opposed tomovement in an upstream direction as described hereinbefore. In thatevent, provisions must be made, say in the extension section 126 forpulling the compound from the pressure filling devices 93-93 in adownstream direction, i.e., the same direction as the path of travel ofthe cable core 12, to establish a flow path of the compound to morecompletely fill the interstices 21--21.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the invention. Other arrangements may be devised bythose skilled in the art which will embody the principles of theinvention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of filling substantially the interstices of an alreadystranded core of a communications cable with a waterproofing compound,which includes the steps of: v

advancing successive sections of the stranded core along a predeterminedpath; through a laterally confined pressure relief chamber and thenthrough a filling chamber;

directing a plurality of streams of the compound in a semifluid stategenerally radially inwardly of the longitudinal axes of the successivesections of the stranded core in the filling chamber at a velocity andpressure sufficient to cause the compound to displace the air within theinterstices of the core and to fill the interstices thereof, whilecreating a pressure differential between the filling chamber and thepressure relief chamber to establish a flow path of the compound whichhas been moved in engagement with the core longitudinally along the coreand move portions of the compound from the filling chamber within thestranded core to the pressure relief chamber to cause the interstices ofthe core to become filled substantially; and

providing a cooling chamber along the path downstream of the fillingchamber and through which the core is advanced to cool the core and thecompound associated with the successive sections of the core in theinterstices and on the surface thereof to a consistency having aviscosity sufficient to facilitate the retention of the compound withthe core independently of any supporting structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of streams of compoundsare arranged in a single plane transverse of the axes of the successivesections of the core.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of streams of compoundare spaced along the longitudinal axes of the successive sections of thecore.

4. A method of applying a compound to a stranded core of acommunications cable, which comprises the steps of:

advancing successive sections of the stranded core along a path oftravel;

directing streams of the compound in a semifluid state generallyinwardly of the successive sections of the stranded core;

establishing a flow path of the compound longitudinally along theadvancing successive sections of the stranded core in a directionopposite to the path of travel;

the velocity of the streams and the flow paths and the pressure of thecompound being sufficient to cause the compound to displace the airwithin the interstices of the stranded core and to fill the intersticesof the stranded core;

cooling the successive sections of the stranded core prior to the entryof the sections into the flow path of the compound to place in ajelly-like state any portions of the compound which are drawn from theflow path in a direction opposite that of the path of travel to precludefurther movement of the compound along the path of travel; andconditioning the compound associated with the stranded core to aconsistency having a viscosity sufficient to limit the flow path and tofacilitate the retention of the compound with the stranded coreindependently of any supporting structure.

stranded article, which comprises the steps of:

moving successive sections of the stranded article along a path oftravel successively through a cooling chamber, a pressure-relief chamberand compound-filling chamber;

directing a plurality of streams of compound in a semifluid state intothe compound-filling chamber and into engagement with the successivesections of the stranded article at a pressure sufficient to move thecompound into the interstices of the successive sections of the strandedarticle;

establishing a flow path of the compound from the filling chamber in adirection opposite to the path of travel of the successive sections ofthe stranded article to move the compound from the filling chamber alongand within the stranded article into the pressure-relief chamber;

the cooling chamber being effective to preclude fur ther movement of thefilling compound in the direction opposite to the path of travel; and

conditioning the compound associated with the stranded article to aconsistency having a viscosity sufficient to facilitate the retention ofthe compound with the stranded article independently of any supportingstructure.

6. A method of applying a compound to an elongated stranded article,which comprises the steps of:

moving successive sections of the stranded article through acompound-applying chamber;

moving amounts of the compound in a semifluid state into thecompound-applying chamber and into contact with the successive sectionsof the stranded article at a pressure sufficiently high to displace theair in interstices of the stranded article with compound; then movingthe compound relatively generally longitudinally of the movement of thesuccessive sections of the stranded article, the moving of the compoundinto contact with the article and then relatively generallylongitudinally thereof causing the compound to be moved first into theinterstices and then along the article to facilitate the displacement ofthe air within the interstices throughout the cross-sectional area ofthe stranded article to insure that substantially all the intersticesare filled with the compound;

moving the compound-filled stranded article through an environmentwhereat the semifluid compound is conditioned to place the compound in ajelly-like state so that the compound is non-flowable and is retainedwithin the interstices and on the surface of the stranded articleindependently of any other supporting structure; and I cooling thesuccessive sections of the stranded article prior to the entry of theportions into the flow path of the compound to place in a jelly-likestate any portions of the compound which are drawn from thecompound-applying chamber along the flow path to preclude furthermovement of the compound.

7. A method of applying a compound to an elongated stranded article,which comprises the steps of:

advancing successive sections of the stranded article in a firstdirection along a path of travel;

cooling initially the successive sections of the stranded article; andthen directing streams of the compound in a smeifluid state generallyradially inwardly of the successive sections of the stranded article;establishing a flow of the compound relatively longitudinally of thestranded article in a second direction opposite to the first direction;the pressure of the compound and the flow paths of the compound beingsufficient to displace the air from the interstices of the strandedarticle and to fill the interstices with the compound; the cooling ofthe successive sections prior to the application of the compound beingsufficient to condition the compound to a consistency having a viscositysufficient to seal the stranded article and preclude furtherlongitudinal movement of the compound; and cooling the successivesections of the article subsequent to the directing of the compound intoengagement therewith to condition the compound to a consistency having aviscosity sufficient to facilitate retention of the compound with thestranded article independently of any supporting structure. 8. Themethod of claim 7 wherein the directing of the streams and thelongitudinal flow of the compound is caused to occur in an enclosedenvironment.

9. The method of claim 7, which further includes: heating the compoundto a predetermined temperature prior to the directing of the streamsthereof into engagement with the successive portions of the strandedarticle. 10. A method of applying a compound to an elongated strandedarticle, which comprises the steps of:

advancing successive sections of the stranded article in a firstdirection along a path of travel;

cooling initially the successive sections of the stranded article; andthen directing streams of the compound in a semifluid state generallyradially inwardly of the successive sections of the stranded article;

establishing a flow of the compound relatively longitudinally of thestranded article in a second direction opposite to the first directionwhich includes the steps of;

reducing the pressure intermediate the directing of the streams and thecooling initially of the successive sections of the stranded article;and

moving compound in excess of that required to fill the interstices andto cover the surface of the stranded article out of engagement with thestranded article;

the pressure of the compound and the flow paths of the compound beingsufficient to displace the air from the interstices of the strandedarticle and to fill the interstices with the compound;

the cooling of the successive sections prior to the application of thecompound being sufficient to condition the compound to a consistencyhaving a viscosity sufficient to seal the stranded article and precludefurther longitudinal movement of the compound; and

cooling the successive sections of the article subsequent to thedirecting of the compound into engagement therewith to condition thecompound to a consistency having a viscosity sufficient to facilitateretention of the compound with the stranded article independently of anysupporting structure.

1. A method of filling substantially the interstices of an alreadystranded core of a communications cable with a waterproofing compound,which includes the steps of: advancing successive sections of thestranded core along a predetermined path; through a laterally confinedpressure relief chamber and then through a filling chamber; directing aplurality of streams of the compound in a semifluid state generallyradially inwardly of the longitudinal axes of the successive sections ofthe stranded core in the filling chamber at a velocity and pressuresufficient to cause the compound to displace the air within theinterstices of the core and to fill the interstices thereof, whilecreating a pressure differential between the filling chamber and thepressure relief chamber to establish a flow path of the compound whichhas been moved in engagement with the core longitudinally along the coreand move portions of the compound from the filling chamber within thestranded core to the pressure relief chamber to cause the interstices ofthe core to become filled substantially; and providing a cooling chamberalong the path downstream of the filling chamber and through which thecore is advanced to cool the core and the compound associated with thesuccessive sections of the core in the interstices and on the surfacethereof to a consistency having a viscosity sufficient to facilitate theretention of the compound with the core independently of any supportingstructure.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of streams ofcompounds are arranged in a single plane transverse of the axes of thesuccessive sections of the core.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of streams of compound are spaced along the longitudinal axesof the successive sections of the core.
 4. A method of applying acompound to a stranded core of a communications cable, which comprisesthe steps of: advancing successive sections of the stranded core along apath of travel; directing streams of the compound in a semifluid stategenerally inwardly of the successive sections of the stranded core;establishing a flow path of the compound longitudinally along theadvancing successive sections of the stranded core in a directionopposite to the path of travel; the velocity of the streams and the flowpaths and the pressure of the compound being sufficient to cause thecompound to displace the air within the interstices of the stranded coreand to fill the interstices of the stranded core; cooling the successivesections of the stranded core prior to the entry of the sections intothe flow path of the compound to place in a jelly-like state anyportions of the compound which are drawn from the flow path in adirection opposite that of the path of travel to preclude furthermovement of the compound along the path of travel; and conditioning thecompound associated with the stranded core to a consistency having aviscosity sufficient to limit the flow path and to facilitate theretention of the compound with the stranded core independently of anysupporting structure.
 5. A method of applying a compound to an elongatedstranded article, which comprises the steps of: moving successivesections of the stranded article along a path of travel successivelythrough a cooling chamber, a pressure-relief chamber andcompound-filling chamber; directing a plurality of streams of compoundin a semifluid state into the compound-filling chamber and intoengagement with the successive sections of the stranded article at apressure sufficient to move the compound into the interstices of thesuccessive sections of the stranded article; establishing a flow path ofthe compound from the filling chamber in a direction opposite to thepath of travel of the successive sections of the stranded article tomove the compound from the filling chamber along and within the strandedarticle into the pressure-relief chamber; the cooling chamber beingeffective to preclude further movement of the filling compound in thedirection opposite to the path of travel; and conditioning the compoundassociated with the stranded article to a consistency having a viscositysufficient to facilitate the retention of the compound with the strandedarticle independently of any supporting structure.
 6. A method ofapplying a compound to an elongated stranded article, which comprisesthe steps of: moving successive sections of the stranded article througha compound-applying chamber; moving amounts of the compound in asemifluid state into the compound-applying chamber and into contact withthe successive sections of the stranded article at a pressuresufficiently high to displace the air in interstices of the strandedarticle with compound; then moving the compound relatively generallylongitudinally of the movement of the successive sections of thestranded article, the moving of the compound into contact with thearticle and then relatively generally longitudinally thereof causing thecompound to be moved first into the interstices and then along thearticle to facilitate the displacement of the air within the intersticesthroughout the cross-sectional area of the stranded article to insurethat substantially all the interstices are filled with the compound;moving the compound-filled stranded article through an environmentwhereat the semifluid compound is conditioned to place the compound in ajelly-like state so that the compound is non-flowable and is retainedwithin the interstices and on the surface of the stranded articleindependently of any other supporting structure; and cooling thesuccessive sections of the stranded article prior to the entry of theportions into the flow path of the compound to place in a jelly-likestate any portions of the compound which are drawn from thecompound-applying chamber along the flow path to preclude furthermovement of the compound.
 7. A method of applying a compound to anelongated stranded article, which comprises the steps of: advancingsuccessive sections of the stranded article in a first direction along apath of travel; cooling initially the successive sections of thestranded article; and then directing streams of the compound in asmeifluid state generally radially inwardly of the successive sectionsof the stranded article; establishing a flow of the compound relativelylongitudinally of the stranded article in a second direction opposite tothe first direction; tHe pressure of the compound and the flow paths ofthe compound being sufficient to displace the air from the intersticesof the stranded article and to fill the interstices with the compound;the cooling of the successive sections prior to the application of thecompound being sufficient to condition the compound to a consistencyhaving a viscosity sufficient to seal the stranded article and precludefurther longitudinal movement of the compound; and cooling thesuccessive sections of the article subsequent to the directing of thecompound into engagement therewith to condition the compound to aconsistency having a viscosity sufficient to facilitate retention of thecompound with the stranded article independently of any supportingstructure.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the directing of the streamsand the longitudinal flow of the compound is caused to occur in anenclosed environment.
 9. The method of claim 7, which further includes:heating the compound to a predetermined temperature prior to thedirecting of the streams thereof into engagement with the successiveportions of the stranded article.
 10. A method of applying a compound toan elongated stranded article, which comprises the steps of: advancingsuccessive sections of the stranded article in a first direction along apath of travel; cooling initially the successive sections of thestranded article; and then directing streams of the compound in asemifluid state generally radially inwardly of the successive sectionsof the stranded article; establishing a flow of the compound relativelylongitudinally of the stranded article in a second direction opposite tothe first direction which includes the steps of; reducing the pressureintermediate the directing of the streams and the cooling initially ofthe successive sections of the stranded article; and moving compound inexcess of that required to fill the interstices and to cover the surfaceof the stranded article out of engagement with the stranded article; thepressure of the compound and the flow paths of the compound beingsufficient to displace the air from the interstices of the strandedarticle and to fill the interstices with the compound; the cooling ofthe successive sections prior to the application of the compound beingsufficient to condition the compound to a consistency having a viscositysufficient to seal the stranded article and preclude furtherlongitudinal movement of the compound; and cooling the successivesections of the article subsequent to the directing of the compound intoengagement therewith to condition the compound to a consistency having aviscosity sufficient to facilitate retention of the compound with thestranded article independently of any supporting structure.